28 Best Venture Capital (VC) Investors in Menlo Park, California

Startups in Menlo Park! You’re in luck. This article is your golden ticket to finding the best venture capital investors right in your backyard. We’re talking about VCs who bring to the table – expertise, connections, and a real understanding of what startups need to thrive. 

Whether you’re a tech wizard, a retail guru, or a healthtech innovator, this guide has got you covered. Dive in to discover the VC investors in Menlo Park who are eager to fuel your growth and help you make your mark. 

Andreessen Horowitz

Andreessen Horowitz, also known as a16z, is one of Silicon Valley’s most popular VC firms. Founded in 2009 by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, this firm is a major player in the venture capital scene. They’re known for investing in various stages and sectors of tech and have invested in big names like Facebook, OpenAI, Airbnb, and Roblox. They’ve made over 1,500 investments​​​​​​​​​​. Regarding funding, Andreessen Horowitz recently raised a hefty $9 billion across three new funds. This sum was allocated to their venture capital, growth-stage, and biotech-focused vehicles. One of these funds is the Andreessen Horowitz Growth III, which alone raised $5 billion. 

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Colombia, Switzerland, Brazil, Israel, France, Germany, Mexico, Singapore, China, Poland, Denmark, India, Japan, Ukraine, Philippines, Hong Kong, Sweden, Iceland, Cayman Islands, South Africa, Argentina, New Zealand, Belgium, Norway, Estonia, South Korea, Greece, Spain, British Virgin Islands, Uruguay, Finland, Slovakia, Austria, Morocco

Operating since: 2009

Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C

Investment Focus: Software, Consumer, Enterprise, Bio/Health Care, Crypto, FinTech 

Number of investments: 1704

Number of exits: 357

Check size: $1m – $100m

Notable investments: OpenAI, Slack, SpaceX, Stripe

Founders/Key People: Ben Horowitz, Anish Acharya, Joe Morrissey

Website: https://a16z.com 

Benhamou Global Ventures

Benhamou Global Ventures (BGV) is a VC firm based in Silicon Valley that specializes in cross-border venture capital investments. Founded in 2004 by Eric Benhamou, BGV focuses on later-stage investments, particularly in cybersecurity, mobility, IoT, and cloud technologies. The firm likes to source startups to build them into next-generation B2B technology companies. Benhamou Global Ventures operates hands-on, assisting portfolio companies in various operational aspects.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: USA, UK, France, Israel, Germany, Australia, Sweden

Operating since: 2004

Stages: Series A, Series B

Investment Focus: Enterprise 4.0: Embedded AI, Unique Datasets, Intelligent Automation (Software, Cloud, IoT, Robotics, Computer Vision, CyberSecurity, Automotive, Logistics, Energy, FinTech, Retail, HealthCare, Manufacturing) 

Number of investments: 144

Number of exits: 48

Check size: $2m – 5m

Notable investments: Virtana, Totango, Evinced 

Founders/Key People: Eric Benhamou, Eric Buatois, 

Website: https://benhamouglobalventures.com 

Bow Capital

Bow Capital is an innovative venture capital firm that blends academia, business, and entertainment in its investment approach. Primarily, Bow Capital focuses on early-stage investments, particularly in Series A and B rounds, demonstrating a commitment to nurturing emerging technologies and business models. The firm was founded in partnership with the University of California, showcasing a commitment to integrating academic research and innovation into the VC landscape​.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: USA, Canada

Operating since: 2016

Stages: Series A, Series B

Investment Focus: CONSUMER, E-commerce, DTC, EdTech, ENTERPRISE, Software, Data Analytics, Logistics, Science, BioTech, FoodTech, AgTech, CleanTech, Consumer and B2B Marketplaces

Number of investments: 63

Number of exits: 9

Check size: $500k – $10m

Notable investments: ClearCo, Evolve BioSystems

Founders/Key People: Grady Burnett, Raymond Dong

Website: https://bowcapital.com 

DFJ Growth

DFJ Growth, also known as Draper Fisher Jurvetson Growth, is a venture capital firm that was founded in 2006. Based in Menlo Park, California, the firm funds enterprises, disruptive technologies, and the public sector. DFJ Growth is notable for partnering with highly transformative companies, often as their first growth investor. Their portfolio includes significant names such as Coinbase, SpaceX, Stripe, Tesla, Twitter, Unity, and others. The firm has been instrumental in fueling innovation in the economy and has recently announced a new billion-dollar fund, DFJ Growth IV.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: UK, USA, Israel, India, China, Canada

Operating since: 2006

Stages: Series A,Series B,Series C,Series D

Investment Focus: Enterprise Software,AI,Cloud Infrastructure,Storage,Data Infrastructure,Data Analytics, FinTech,Digital Media, Marketplaces, HRTech, HealthTech, BioTech, Construction, SalesTech, Space,Security Software,Internet,Semiconductors,Wireless,Hardware

Number of investments: 125

Number of exits: 37

Check size: $1m – $40m

Notable investments: Stripe, Twitter, Coinbase

Founders/Key People: Randy Glein, Chris Shanahan

Website: https://dfjgrowth.com 

Lightspeed Venture Partners

Lightspeed Venture Partners, established in 2000, is one of the most successful venture capital firms, specializing in early-stage and growth investments within the technology sector. Lightspeed offers a broad investment scope across diverse tech domains and is known for its entrepreneur-centric approach. Lightspeed is also committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in its investment strategy. Their “About” page proudly mentions their approach with the following headline, “Serving Bold Builders of the Future.”

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: USA, China, Israel, Europe, India, Southeast Asia, Canada, LATAM.

Operating since: 2000

Investment Focus: Consumer (FinTech,Emerging,Media,Social,Commerce), Enterprise (Security,Infrastructure,SaaS,Big Data/Analytics,Services/Other)

Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Post-Seed, Series A, Series B+.

Number of investments: 1464

Number of exits: 252

Check size: $100k – $10m

Notable investments: Byju’s, Epic Games, Cisco.

Founders/Key People: Christopher Schaepe, Peter Nieh

Website: https://lsvp.com

Mayfield Fund

Mayfield, also known as Mayfield Fund, is a distinguished venture capital firm based in the United States, particularly in Menlo Park, California. Established in 1969, it stands as one of Silicon Valley’s oldest venture capital firms. Mayfield specializes in early-stage to growth-stage investments, focusing primarily on enterprise and consumer technology companies. The firm takes a people-first approach in its investments, partnering with founders from inception to build multi-billion dollar companies.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: United States, India, China, United Kingdom, Australia, Israel, Singapore, France, Taiwan, Uruguay, Canada, Tonga.

Operating since: 1969.

Investment Focus: Enterprise/B2B (Software/SaaS,Cloud/Infrastructure/Data,AI/ML,MarTech, Cyber Security,HRTech, Telecom/Hardware), Consumer (Consumer Internet,E-commerce, FinTech, Media/Entertainment, AR/VR, Health & Fitness,Mobility), Engineering Biology (BioTech/Digital Health/HealthTech).

Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Post-Seed, Series A, Series B+.

Number of investments: 1039

Number of exits: 246

Check size: $100K – $50M

Notable investments: Lyft, Marketo

Founders/Key People: Navin Chaddha, Guru Pangal

Website: https://www.mayfield.com

New Enterprise Associates (NEA)

New Enterprise Associates (NEA) is a prominent American-based venture capital firm, founded in 1977. NEA is recognized for its wide-ranging investment scope, covering seed stage through growth stage across a variety of industry sectors, with a global outlook. NEA’s investment strategy spans across technology and healthcare sectors, and it is headquartered in Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland. Additionally, NEA has made a significant impact with its substantial number of investments and exits, reflecting its active role in the venture capital ecosystem​.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: United States, India, China, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Israel, France, Spain, Sweden.

Operating since: 2017

Investment Focus: Enterprise Tech/B2B,Software & Services,AI & Data Analytics,DeepTech & Automation, Systems,Consumer Tech & Consumer Internet,FinTech,EdTech,HealthCare,Life Sciences,BioTech, Digital Health, Medical Devices.

Stage: Seed, Post-Seed, Series A, Series B+.

Number of investments: 2799

Number of exits: 647

Check size: $1M – $50M

Notable investments: ByteDance, Salesforce

Founders/Key People: Thomas Undefined, Emma Shevchenko

Website: https://www.nea.com

Neotribe Ventures

Neotribe Ventures, founded in 2017, is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California. The firm focuses on investments in various sectors, including applied artificial intelligence, biotech, enterprise infrastructure, IoT, and weather tech. Neotribe Ventures is known for its commitment to early-stage technology companies, investing in breakthrough technologies that stretch the imagination. In addition, Neotribe Ventures operates under the Neotribe Management Company and has made notable contributions to the technology sector since its inception​​​​​​​​.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Mexico, Australia.

Operating since: 2016

Investment Focus: Applied Artificial Intelligence/AI, BioTech/Computational Biology, B2B/Enterprise, Software/SaaS, Automation, CyberSecurity, IoT, Weather Tech, Energy.

Stage: Seed, Post-Seed, Series A, Series B+.

Number of investments: 63

Number of exits: 8

Check size: $4M – $11M

Notable investments: BillionToOne, ServiceNow

Founders/Key People: Nitin Chopra, Swaroop Kalluri

Website: https://www.neotribe.vc/

Altos Ventures

Altos Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California, with over $8 billion in regulated assets under management. The firm, founded in 1996, specializes in early to late-stage venture investments, focusing mainly on the consumer and enterprise sectors. Altos Ventures has been investing in cloud-based business software companies since 1999 and is known for its patient and pragmatic investing approach. The firm is notable for serving entrepreneurs with a strong sense of purpose, investing on behalf of institutional investors, many of whom have charitable, educational, or non-profit missions​

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: USA, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, 

Operating since: 1996

Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B

Investment Focus: Software, Mobile, Internet (Consumer, Enterprise/B2B)

Number of investments: 367

Number of exits: 88

Check size: 

Notable investments: PandaDoc, Quizlet, Roblox

Founders/Key People: Han Kim, Ho Nam

Website: https://altos.vc 

Clearvision Ventures

Clearvision Ventures was founded in 2015 and is based in Menlo Park, California. The firm specializes in investing in software companies operating in sectors like IoT, big data, and security. Clearvision Ventures assists entrepreneurs in establishing market-leading businesses and invests between $1 million to $10 million in a single startup at any stage of growth, from early to late​.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: USA, Australia

Operating since: 2015

Stages: Series A, Series B, Series C

Investment Focus: Energy & Infrastructure Sustainability, Enterprise Software, IoT, AI, ML, Big Data, Data Analytics, CyberSecurity

Number of investments: 33

Number of exits: 7

Check size: $1m – $10m

Notable investments: FiscalNote, Persefoni, Tomorrow.io

Founders/Key People: Daniel Ahn, Thomas Englis

Website: https://www.clearvisionventures.com 

Floodgate

Floodgate is a venture capital firm based in the United States, specializing in micro-cap start-up investments. Founded in 2006, the firm was initially named Maples Investments and later renamed Floodgate Fund in March 2010. The founders of the firm are Mike Maples Jr. and Ann Miura-Ko. Floodgate has been actively investing in various companies, including notable names like Twitter, Digg, and Lyft. As of 2017, the firm raised $131 million for its sixth fund, following its fifth fund, which closed at $76 million. Floodgate’s investment strategy focuses on early-stage technology companies with the potential for significant growth​​​​.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: UK, USA, Canada, Colombia, Ireland, Italy, Germany, France, Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Indonesia, Mexico

Operating since: 2006

Stages: Seed,Series A,Series B,Series C

Investment Focus: Enterprise Software, Cloud, SaaS, E-commerce, Apps, Marketplaces, EdTech, AdTech, Consumer Services, Health Care IT, Solar

Number of investments: 456

Number of exits: 181

Check size: $100k – $10m

Notable investments: Lyft, Okta, Twitch, IRL App

Founders/Key People: Mike Maples, Ann Miura-Ko

Website: https://www.floodgate.com 

Greylock Partners

Greylock Partners, established in 1965, is one of the most venerable venture capital firms, with its roots tracing back to the early days of Silicon Valley’s emergence as a technology and innovation hub. The firm specializes in providing seed, Series A and B, and growth-stage investments, focusing heavily on startups and growth-stage companies operating within the consumer Internet and enterprise IT sectors. Greylock is keenly interested in enterprise software technologies, including applications, cloud/SaaS, data management, networking, security, and storage, as well as consumer software technologies in advertising, commerce, gaming, marketplaces, media, mobile services, and social networking​​​​.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: UK, USA, Canada, Brazil, France, India, Mexico, Sweden, Israel, Netherlands, Spain, China, British Virgin Islands, Bahamas

Operating since: 1965

Stages: Seed,Series A,Series B,Series C,Series D,Series E, Series F

Investment Focus: Enterprise (Apps, Cloud/SaaS, Data Center, Management, Networking, Security, Storage), Consumer (Advertising, Commerce, Gaming, Marketplaces, Media, Mobile, Services, Social)

Number of investments: 1174

Number of exits: 554

Check size: $2m – $20m

Notable investments: Meta, Airbnb, LinkedIn

Founders/Key People: Elisa Schreiber, David Thacker

Website: https://greylock.com 

IVP Ventures

IVP Ventures, also known as Institutional Venture Partners, is a leading venture capital firm based in the United States, focusing on high-growth technology companies. Established in 1980 by Reid Dennis, it’s among the oldest venture capital firms and is headquartered in Menlo Park, California. With around 30 employees, IVP manages $7 billion in assets under management (AUM) and has a strong track record of investing in later-stage companies and growth equity investments.

Headquarters: USA

Investment Geography: United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, France, China, India, Sweden, Netherlands, Israel, Lithuania, Hungary.

Operating since: 1980

Investment Focus: Enterprise Software, Cloud Infrastructure, Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, Big Data, AI, IoT, Cyber Security, Mobile, Messaging, Communication, FinTech, AdTech, MarTech, HRTech, Digital Media, DevTools, Digital Health, Marketplaces, E-commerce, Consumer Goods, Consumer Brands, Crypto, PropTech, Social Media, Beauty, Health, Fashion, TravelTech, LegalTech, Mobility, EdTech, Gaming, AR, Robotics.

Stages: Series A

Number of investments: 636

Number of exits: 176

Check size: $1m – $100m

Notable investments: Netflix, Uber

Founders/Key People: Todd Chaffee

Website: https://www.ivp.com/

Kleiner Perkins

Kleiner Perkins, originally known as Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), is a prominent American venture capital firm founded in 1972, with a focus on incubation, early-stage, and growth companies. Headquartered on Sand Hill Road in Menlo Park, Silicon Valley, it has been a key player in the venture capital industry for over five decades. The firm has backed more than 900 companies across technology and life sciences sectors, including notable names such as Amazon, Google, Genentech, and Twitter. Some of its significant investments include a $5 million stake in Netscape in 1994, which was highly profitable following Netscape’s IPO, and an $8 million investment in Google that resulted in returns in excess of $1 billion.

Headquarters: United

Investment Geography: United States, China, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, India, Sweden, Netherlands, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Spain.

Operating since: 1972

Investment Focus: Consumer, FinTech, Enterprise, HardTech, Health Care, HealthTech, B2B, SaaS, AI/ML, DeepTech.

Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Post-Seed, Series A, Series B+.

Number of investments: 2033

Number of exits: 458

Check size: $500K – $50M

Notable investments: Apple, Google

Founders/Key People: Cheng Winnie, Yini Enid

Website: https://www.kleinerperkins.com/

Point72 Ventures 

Point72 Ventures is a global venture capital firm founded in 2016, with its primary offices located in New York, Seattle, and San Francisco. The firm operates as an independent arm of Point72, a global asset management firm led by Steven Cohen. Point72 Ventures specializes in investments across a variety of domains, focusing particularly on fintech, deep tech, and enterprise technologies. The venture capital firm is noted for its diversified team of domain specialists and is led by Steven A. Cohen, a prominent figure with extensive experience in both public and private market investing.

Headquarters: USA (New York)

Investment Geography: Global, with primary focus on USA

Operating since: 2016

Investment Focus: Financial Services (FinTech, Financial Services, FinServ Enterprise Software), Artificial Intelligence (Applied AI, Core ML, HardTech), Enterprise Tech (Enterprise Infrastructure, Cyber Security, Enterprise Apps, Infrastructure for the Future), Health Care (Patient Journey, Decision-Making Processes, Systemic Care Provision)

Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B

Number of investments: 185

Number of exits: 25

Check size: $100k – $50m

Notable investments: DriveWealth, Ualá, Vestwell, Unbabel

Founders/Key People: Steven A. Cohen, Pete Casella, Dan Gwak

Website: https://p72.vc/

Rackhouse Venture Capital 

Rackhouse Venture Capital is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California. They specialize in early-stage, seed, and growth investments, particularly in companies that intersect with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The firm’s investment strategy emphasizes supporting founders who are passionate about using data to enhance efficiency in various sectors. They often invest in certain sectors or technologies that align with their expertise or interest areas.

Headquarters: USA (Menlo Park, California)

Investment Geography: Global with majority of backed companies being US-based

Operating since: 2021

Investment Focus: Artificial Intelligence, AI/ML (Data Engineering, Deep Learning, FinTech, Cyber Security, Dev Tools, B2B, SaaS, Software, Logistics, PropTech, RetailTech, Marketplace)

Stages: Seed, Series A

Number of investments: 55

Number of exits: 4

Check size: $100k – $1m

Notable investments: ScootScience, Pogo, Amitruck

Founders/Key People: Kevin Novak, Jan Crisostomo

Website: https://www.rackhouse.vc/

Rally Ventures

Rally Ventures is a venture capital firm that specializes in early-stage investments in business technology companies. Founded in 2012 and based in Menlo Park, California, with an additional office in Minneapolis, the firm has established itself in the B2B technology landscape. Rally Ventures focuses on companies that are pioneering new markets or introducing transformative approaches to existing markets. Areas of investment interest include artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, fintech, HRtech, developer tools, health tech, and market tech. As of December 2023, the firm had closed its Rally Fund V at $240 million, bringing its total assets under management to over $1 billion. The firm’s strategy includes a focus on cybersecurity, the future of work, software as a service, and artificial intelligence/machine learning.

Headquarters: USA (Menlo Park, California)

Investment Geography: USA

Operating since: 2012

Investment Focus: B2B Technology (Big Data, Cloud Infrastructure, FinTech, SaaS/Software, Cyber Security)

Stages: Seed, Series A

Number of investments: 187

Number of exits: 80

Check size: $0k – $100k, $100k – $500k, $500k – $1m, $1m – $3m, $3m – $10m

Notable investments: Total Expert, AnyRoad, Appfluence

Founders/Key People: Charles Beeler, Jeff Hinck

Website: http://www.rallyventures.com/

Sequoia Capital

Sequoia Capital is a prominent venture capital firm established in 1972, with its headquarters in Menlo Park, California. It operates as an umbrella brand comprising three different venture entities focusing on the U.S. and Europe, India and Southeast Asia, and China. These entities, following a 2023 announcement, are transitioning to operate independently from 2024, not sharing investors or profits. Sequoia is renowned for its investments across various stages, including seed, early, and growth stages, and has a notable track record with investments in significant technology companies.

Headquarters: USA (Menlo Park, California)

Investment Geography: USA

Operating since: 1972

Investment Focus: Consumer Internet, Consumer Devices, Marketplace, Digital Media, Gaming, FinTech, Crypto, Digital Health/HealthTech, Enterprise/B2B, SaaS/Software, Data & Analytics, Dev Tools, Hardware & Infrastructure, MarTech, Networking & Cyber Security, Storage

Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C

Number of investments: 2,462

Number of exits: 828

Check size: $500k – $1m, $1m – $3m, $3m – $10m, $10m – $50m, $50m+

Notable investments: Reddit, Klarna, Wiz, dbt Labs, Zapier, Retool, Ironclad

Founders/Key People: Jeff Wang, Doug Leone

Website: http://www.sequoiacap.com/

Shasta Ventures

Shasta Ventures is a venture capital firm that concentrates on early-stage startups, with a particular focus on SaaS, cybersecurity, infrastructure, data intelligence, and consumer subscription sectors. They have been active for over 15 years and manage over a billion dollars, dedicating themselves to supporting innovative entrepreneurs who aim to create impactful businesses. Shasta Ventures is known for its track record of investing in groundbreaking companies such as Anaplan, Canva, Zuora, Nest, and Nextdoor. They offer more than just financial investment, providing a unique program called Shasta Elevate. This program is designed by industry experts to accelerate portfolio companies towards their key milestones more efficiently. Shasta Ventures is known for its track record of investing in groundbreaking companies such as Anaplan, Canva, Zuora, Nest, and Nextdoor. 

Headquarters: USA (Portola Valley, California)

Investment Geography: USA

Operating since: 2004

Investment Focus: Smart Software (SaaS, Infrastructure, Data Intelligence, Security), Consumer (Finance, Subscription, Social, Goods), Emerging (AR, VR, Robotics, Connected Home, Space)

Stages: Seed, Series A, Series B

Number of investments: 472

Number of exits: 154

Check size: $0 – $100k, $100k – $500k, $500k – $1m, $1m – $3m, $3m – $10m

Notable investments: Canva, Athleas, Frame.io, Tally, Nest, Zuora, Anaplan, Starsky Robotics, Color

Founders/Key People: Tod Francis, Robert Coneybeer

Website: https://www.shasta.vc/

Storm Ventures

Storm Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, California, focusing on early-stage investments in B2B enterprise companies. With over 23 years of experience and more than 200 investments, Storm Ventures specializes in building enterprise leaders by investing in disruptive B2B software startups across areas like SaaS, enterprise infrastructure, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: United States, Germany, South Korea, Israel, Argentina, Canada, Mexico, Lithuania, United Kingdom, India, Malaysia, Pakistan.

Operating since: 2000

Investment Focus: Enterprise/B2B (Vertical SaaS/Software, MarTech, Data Infrastructure, Digital Health, Engineering, GovTech/LegalTech, HRTech/Workforce, IT, Robotics As A Service, Sales, Cyber Security).

Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 318

Number of exits: 64

Check size: $100K – $1M

Notable investments: Adobe Systems, Marketo.

Founders/Key People: Tae Nahm, Ryan Floyd

Website: https://www.stormventures.com/

TCV Ventures

TCV (Technology Crossover Ventures) is a prominent venture capital firm founded in 1995 by Jay Hoag and Rick Kimball. The firm specializes in providing growth capital to technology companies during their rapid expansion phase, employing a crossover investment model that combines venture capital with public market investing. TCV has invested over $13 billion in more than 350 companies, with notable investments including Airbnb, ByteDance, Facebook, GoFundMe, and Spotify.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: United States, Mexico, Germany, United Kingdom, India, Canada, France, Netherlands, Israel, China, Lithuania, Sweden.

Operating since: 1995

Investment Focus: Enterprise IT, Consumer Internet, Mobile, B2B Software, SaaS, Tech-Enabled Services, FinTech, Health Care IT

Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 441

Number of exits: 205

Check size: $3M – $300M

Notable investments: Meta, Netflix

Founders/Key People: Rick Kimbal

Website: https://www.tcv.com/

Third Point Ventures

Third Point Ventures is the venture capital arm of Third Point LLC, a registered investment adviser based in New York, managing approximately $5 billion in assets. Founded in 1995 by Daniel S. Loeb, the firm is led by Robert Schwartz, an industry veteran with over 25 years of private equity experience​​. Third Point Ventures focuses on enterprise, fintech, mobile, and healthcare innovation, and it has a portfolio of companies spanning various sectors, including autonomous technology, cloud-native visibility and security, e-commerce fraud prevention, and API management and development​​.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: United States, Israel, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Colombia, Bahamas.

Operating since: 1995

Investment Focus: Technology (Consumer, Enterprise/B2B, Mobile, Cyber Security, Software/SaaS, Mobility), FinTech, Health Care/BioTech/MedTech/Digital Health.

Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 102

Number of exits: 30

Check size: $100k – $1M

Notable investments: N26 Group, SoFi

Founders/Key People: Charlie Factor

Website: https://www.thirdpointventures.com/

Threshold Ventures

Threshold Capital Venture Capital Firm is an early-stage venture capital firm that partners with innovative consumer, enterprise, and healthcare technology companies. They support companies in transformative growth stages and have invested in notable firms like Brightline, LaunchDarkly, Remitly, and Upside Foods. Additionally, they offer the Threshold Venture Fellows program for entrepreneurship leadership experience. Recently, Threshold announced new funds, Threshold IV and Threshold Select, with a capital commitment of over $450 million.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: United States, China, United Kingdom, India, Canada, Israel, Brazil, France, Spain, Pakistan, South Korea, Taiwan.

Operating since: 2019

Investment Focus: HealthTech/Digital Health, Artificial Intelligence/Edge Computing, Consumer Services/Established Consumer Habits, Advanced Data Applications, Enterprise/B2B, SaaS/Software.

Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 1010

Number of exits: 211

Check size: $1M – $50M

Notable investments: SpaceX, Tesla

Founders/Key People: Josh Stein

Website: https://threshold.vc/

Trinity Ventures

Trinity Ventures, founded in 1986 and based in Menlo Park, California, is a leading venture capital firm specializing in early-stage technology startups. The firm’s approach is characterized by a deep commitment to building strong, personal relationships with entrepreneurs, emphasizing mutual respect and goal alignment. Trinity Ventures maintains a focused capital-to-partner ratio to ensure dedicated support for its portfolio companies, leveraging its team’s background as former founders and tech executives to provide not just capital, but also invaluable industry insight and operational experience.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: United States, Ireland, United Kingdom, Mexico, Germany, China, France, Taiwan, Denmark.

Operating since: 1986

Investment Focus: Consumer Services, Horizontal Software, Vertical SaaS, Cloud Infrastructure & Core Tech, Emerging Tech.

Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 590

Number of exits: 180

Check size: $500K – $10M

Notable investments: New Relic, Outreach

Founders/Key People: Ajay Chopra

Website: https://trinityventures.com/

Unusual Ventures

Unusual Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm founded in 2018, strategically headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with additional offices in San Francisco and Boston. This firm is distinguished by its foundational goal to revolutionize the venture capital engagement model, offering an unparalleled level of hands-on services to early-stage founders. Unusual Ventures is committed to focusing exclusively on a select number of portfolio companies, enabling them to provide focused attention and support during the critical early stages of development.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Israel, Sweden, France.

Operating since: 2018

Investment Focus: Enterprise Tech, Enterprise Software, Consumer Tech, Consumer Internet.

Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 114

Number of exits: 10

Check size: $2M – $10M

Notable investments: Robinhood, Carta.

Founders/Key People: John Vrionis

Website: https://www.unusual.vc/

US Venture Partners (USVP)

U.S. Venture Partners (USVP) is a prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firm that has invested in over 900 companies across four decades. They specialize in early-stage startups in areas such as cybersecurity, enterprise software, consumer products, and healthcare. The USVP team, comprising former entrepreneurs, technologists, executives, and financial professionals, provides support in strategy, scaling, team building, product development, and business growth.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: United States, Israel, Canada, France, Pakistan, China, Peru, United Kingdom, Australia.

Operating since: 1981

Investment Focus: SaaS+Cloud/Enterprise Software, Cyber Security, Consumer Internet, Mobile, Medical Devices/MedTech, Biotechnology, Health Care IT/HealthTech.

Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 954

Number of exits: 227

Check size: $20K – $1M

Notable investments: Amgen, Box

Founders/Key People: Steve Krausz

Website: https://www.usvp.com/

Valley Capital Partners

Valley Capital Partners is an early stage venture capital firm founded in 1997. They focus on backing founders who create new markets through technological advancements. With a track record of 14 billion-dollar exits, they specialize in accelerating founders who have found product-market fit. Their investments primarily target Seed and Series A companies that have achieved over $1 million in ARR through early contracts with key anchor customers. Valley Capital Partners is active in areas such as climate tech, robotics, AI/ML, cybersecurity, blockchain, IoT, and enterprise software.

Headquarters: United States

Investment Geography: United States.

Operating since: 1997

Investment Focus: Enterprise Infrastructure, Enterprise Software, SaaS, Cyber Security, Deep Tech.

Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 20

Number of exits: 2

Check size: $1M – $7M

Notable investments: Rios, ModelOp

Founders/Key People: Steve O’Hara

Website: https://valleycapital.vc/

Xplorer Capital

Xplorer Capital is a venture capital firm established in 2011 and based in Menlo Park, California. They focus on investing in seed-stage, Series A, and Series B companies. Xplorer Capital targets disruptive technologies and talented entrepreneurs, with a particular interest in transforming traditional industries. The firm’s investment approach is centered around forming long-term partnerships and supporting their portfolio companies through leveraging their experience and connections. They have a diverse portfolio including companies across various sectors such as agricultural technology, logistics, and healthcare. 

Headquarters: United States.

Investment Geography: United States, Germany.

Operating since: 2011

Investment Focus: Automation,AI,IoT,Data Solutions,Enterprise SaaS (Traditional Industries:- Manufacturing,Logistics,Agriculture, Health Care,Sustainability, Proptech,Mobility,Commerce,Corporate Productivity)

Stage: Pre-Seed,Seed,Series A, Series B.

Number of investments: 36

Number of exits: 10

Check size: $100K – $5M

Notable investments: Pachama, Farmwise

Founders/Key People: Jonathan McQueen, Keith Nilsson

Website: https://xplorer.vc/

Conclusion

So, that’s the rundown of Menlo Park’s finest in venture capital. Remember, the right VC is more than a cash injection; it’s a partnership that propels your startup to new heights. Use this guide as your launchpad to connect with investors who truly vibe with your vision. Your startup’s success story is waiting to be written, and with the ideal VC by your side, you’re well on your way to becoming a Menlo Park legend.